![]() WhatsApp has two billion users - meaning fraudsters just need to scam a tiny fraction of people to make money.Ĭhris Ainsley, head of fraud risk management at Santander UK explains that scams like these appear on your mobile phone texts too. ‘Hi Mum’ and ‘Hi Dad’ scams could be a particular problem for parents with children aged 18 to 25 who are starting or returning to university this Autumn, leaving home or going travelling. Yet, personal stories of it happening to people recounted on social media demonstrate anyone can be vulnerable to being tricked. It’s a distressing experience that leaves victims feeling embarrassed and devastated. If the safeword or answer to any questions can’t be confirmed, don’t make any payments and also stop responding to any further messages.Ĭontact your bank as soon as possible, if you do think you’ve sent money to a fraudster, You can contact us via the app 24/7 and a real human will be there to help.Money Edit reader Christine similarly almost lost £1,000 to a WhatsApp scammer pretending to be her daughter.Ĭlicking on any scam link runs the risk of exposure to phishing scams, spam and malicious websites that allow scammers to potentially steal personal information, like your bank details. Change it immediately if you think you could have given it out to a scammer or a non-family member. Never share this word or phrase with anyone that’s not in your family, and make sure you change it every now and again. My family uses a phrase from a TV show we all love. You could even establish a family safeword - something that holds meaning only to close family members, something that you can ask for to confirm who you’re speaking with. An example could be ‘what did we eat the last time we saw each other?’ (don’t give any clues that could give the answer away). Of course, sometimes you might be unable to do this, so if you can’t speak on the phone, try asking a personal question only they would know the answer to, ensuring that it’s not something that can be found on social media. As soon as you’ve had a voice conversation with your child, you’ll be safe in the knowledge that it really is them. In this scenario, the best way to establish who has contacted you is to make a quick phone call on their usual number - not the new, unknown one. Always question any requests for money that come out of the blue, and verify the person who is asking for it. This is all in the hope you’ll believe that this really is your loved one.Īction Fraud has reported that this scam cost victims over £1.5 million between February and June 2022, so it’s important to follow Take Five’s advice to stop, challenge and protect when you receive any messages like this. If you suggest a phone call, they’ll make an excuse as to why they’re unable to receive calls. Once the initial message is sent, they may make small talk, to try and sound genuine, before asking for a large sum of money, stating they can’t access their online banking. ![]() All a criminal needs is your phone number and the knowledge that a parent will do anything they can to help their child in need. What you definitely shouldn’t do, is send any money to the person who sent this message. “Mum, it’s me… I’ve broken my phone and this is my temporary number. You get the following message on WhatsApp from an unknown number, what do you do? Sarah Lenette, one of Starling’s financial crime specialists, takes a look. It helps make sure you know who you’re really talking to. A safeword can be used between family members, when messaging.
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